It's official The Lion King will play Vegas

[winston89]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 5:48pm

It's official. Disney' The Lion King will replace Mamma Mia at Mandalay Bay Resort. I know that there was a thread about this earlier but that thread was about how that was a rumor.

I get the assumption from the article that the show will be full length and that they aren't going to cut down the run time.

I wonder now that Vegas is getting a Disney show are they going to try the whole "family friendly" thing in Vegas again.
The Lion King to play Vegas

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 5:51pm

it's funny, this is one of the few broadway shows that I actually think could used some cuts in the material. It had the potential to be a much tighter show than what's currently on broadway:)

[winston89]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 5:53pm

I was just wondering. I know that not that long ago they closed on of their two touring productions. I am wondering, did they close one of the tours so that they could bring that production to Vegas?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 6:06pm

Totally appropriate show for Vegas. Maybe too "artsy" though, but still it should be successful.

[choitoy]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 6:57pm

I was hoping they would announce a trimmed up version. The whole show gets very tedious after the breathtaking opening (I still get chills even when I see it as a crappy little video on the internet!). I usually am all for keeping a show whole and intact, but the full stage show is longer than the actual movie (by what feels like hours) (same thing with "Phantom"). I would have gladly revisited it if it was a 90 minute production.

As a P.S., I also wish I got the chance to see "Mamma Mia!" in Vegas before it leaves. Too bad I decided to not make my Madonna tour trip down to Vegas this year (I'm doing her Vancouver B.C. show instead), so I'll probably not get a chance to now.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 8:12pm

This has more appeal to kids. A few years ago, Vegas was going through it kid friendly routine. This has come & gone so no idea if this will succeed or not.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 8:18pm

Updated On: 5/1/09 at 08:18 PM

[trekchristi]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 10:33pm

Looking at the tour schedule online, it looks like one of the touring casts will become the Vegas cast or one of the touring companies will end.

It will be interesting to see what they will do for this production. The theatre will be great for it no doubt. It'd be nice if they get a fresh new cast as well.

[winston89]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 11:28pm

trekchristi, It was announced a long while ago that one of the touring companies was going to close. This was long before the press release came out saying that Lion King was going to Vegas. I am assuming that they closed one of the tours to bring the show to Vegas.

I am also wondering if they are going to try to bring back the "vegas is for families" thing again. I have cousins who used to live in Vegas and they said that the locals really don't do stuff on the strip. That it is all tourists. They said that it was different compared to something like New York where there are locals who see Broadway shows. There aren't locals in Vegas who usually go to shows on the strip.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 11:57pm

Is this going to be adbirged?

[Here_I_Go_Again]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 12:00am

I wonder if it will be a tour set (where i believe pride rock is pushed on) or a full out bway set!!!!

[gypsy4]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 12:03am

I thought the national tour was really good.

[broadwayboy101]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 12:03am

I'm assuming, if they move into Mamma Mia's old theatre, that it will just be the same concept as the tour (Pride Rock rolled on, etc).

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 2:46am

I am also wondering if they are going to try to bring back the "vegas is for families" thing again. I have cousins who used to live in Vegas and they said that the locals really don't do stuff on the strip. That it is all tourists. They said that it was different compared to something like New York where there are locals who see Broadway shows. There aren't locals in Vegas who usually go to shows on the strip

I disagree. There ARE locals in Vegas who goes to see the new Cirque show or a big concert. It's no different than people in other parts of the country going to town to see a touring production. Of course, with the amount of tourists that Las Vegas attracts, it'll help with the attendance significantly.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 3:49am

Ugh! Why?! It's bad enough to have the Vegasized version of the show that will never die, but now this?! I live in Las Vegas and despite having some spectacular cirque shows (Love is one of the best pieces of art I have ever witnessed), we are seriouslo wpiy lacking in the way of good theater. What I wouldn't give for a show that's NOT absurdly past its prime? I mean, I remember people complaining not too long ago about TLK opening the Tonys because its hardly something new or innovative and now we get it. I wish each casino would build a theater venue and compete like actual theaters do on Broadway. How amazing would it be to come to Las Vegas and be able to select from an array of actually good shows? Hell, I'd even settle for Wicked. There's an LA one, Chicago, London, NY, why the heck not Vegas? *grumble*

[Macy2]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 12:22pm

I actually think "The Lion King" is the perfect Vegas show. It's such a spectacle, really, and that's what a lot of folks go see a Vegas show for...

[Goodoneinlou]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:16pm

The Vegas show is a full scale version.

It will not utilize the closed tour set. The stage will likely be built just as it is on Broadway with Pride Rock "lipsticking" up from the floor, the grasslands will rise up on hydraulic lifts and the deck will "rake."

Early rumor suggests the show will be streamlined by nearly a half an hour. Possibly eliminating unnecessary songs.

The tour sets are not being used for the Vegas production. The tour is now utilizing both of the sets on the road. It appears they may be advancing sets from city to city in oder to reduce load-in scheduling constraints.

Also it's worth noting that the touring version has now scaled down. The deck no longer rakes and several set peices and props have been reduced. It actually lost nothing in the transition. The raking, as a matter of fact, now seems to be a unnecessary expense. It adds very little to the show.

BTW, the tour now looks better than it did originally.



Updated On: 10/2/08 at 01:16 PM